Belt-buckle.



T. F. MALONEY. BELT BUCKLE. APPLIUATION FILED MAY 2s, 1012A %a% Thomas F. Malone I By M ATTORNEYS coLuMmA PLANnnnAPH co.. wAsnlNnroN. u. 4:A

Patented Sept. 16. 1913.

THOMAS F. MALONEY, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

BELT-BUCKLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

latented Sept. 16, 1913.

To all whom 'It 71207/ confiera de it known that l, TuoMas l?. Mamani', a citizen ot the United States, and a resident ot the city of New York, borough ot the Bronx7 in the county and State otf New York, have invented a new and improved Belt-Buckle, of which the it'ollowing is a lull, clear7 and exact description.

This invention relates to buckles, and particularly to belt buckles, and has -tor au object to provide an improved structure m 'which a sliding cam action is utilized l'or clamping the buckle in place.

Janother object in view is to provide a buckle with a turned over edge arranged at an angle to the general direction ot the body so as to provide inclined ways or cams against which a clamping plate acts when the buckle is being secured in place so as to lirmly Clamp the buckle in position regardless of the thickness oit the belt or strip oit material on which itis placed.

ln carrying out the objects ot` the invention, a simple structure is produced in which a base or body portion is provided, having sides extending at substantially right angles thereto for presenting a channel-shaped structure in cross sect-ion. The sides or channels are inclined from the body portion and turned over on one edge so as to provide inclined or cam ways in which a clamping plate is adapted to move, whereby a belt or other' article may be clamped rigidly in place.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying draw ings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a front elevation ot an embodiment of the invention shown applied to a belt; Fig. 2 is a section through Fig. 1, on the line 2 2; Fig. 3 is a rear view of the structure shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a sec tion through Fig. 2 on the line 4-flg Fig. 5 is a side View of the buckle removed; and Fig, 6 is a longitudinal vertical section through the buckle shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, l indicates a belt of any desired kind, in which the end 2 is threaded through the buckle 3 and clamped in position by the clamping plate l of the buckle. The clamping plate 4L is provided with hand-operated members 5 and 6 for moving the plate back and forth in order to -ause a proper initial engagement ot the clamping plate with the belt. l`he buckle Il is 'formed with a 'tace plate or portion 7 having sides S and 9 eX- tending to the rear therefrom. Each ot the sides S and 9 is comparatively large al'y the end 10 and comparatively narrow at the end 117 the outer edges ol: the sides 'Forming a substantially arc-shaped line 12. The curve ot' line l2 diverges 'from the curve ot the front ol. the tace plate 7, as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and llach ol' the sides 8 and 9 is normal to the plate T and their longitudinal edges are bent over and clamped against the sides for forming projections or shoulders 13 and LL against which the ends 15 and 1G press when the clamping plate is being moved to a clamping position. In bending over the members 13 and 1li, the same are preferably bent over the same distance for their itull length 'from end 10 to end l1, whereby an inclined way or cam is formed against which the plate l acts. The plate 4L is formed with a biting edge 17 and a turned up end 1S, whereby the end 2 of the strap may be easily inserted and aiter plate t has been moved manually to a clamping position the rearward movement oit the end 2 will merely cause a tighter clamping of the clamping plate, as the same is caused to move down the turned over portions or inclined ways l?) and ll-. As clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the sides S and 9 are provided with a bracing member or portion 19 extending transversely of the body and :formed integrally therewith. rlhis bracing portion or member 19 is arranged at the ends of the sides 8 and 9 and not only braces the sides, but acts as a bar over which the strap 1 may be looped. From this construction it will be noted that by moving the clamping plate l toward the end 10 which is the large end7 the clamping plate will be loosened and the end 2 may be freely inserted and rcmoved. When the clamping plate 4 is moved to the opposite end or toward end 11, the strap 1 will be firmly clamped in place and any pulling or tendency to pull the strap -from the end ot the buckle will merely cause the clamping plate to slide down the ways 13 and 111 and more firmly clamp the strap in position. It will thus be seen that the clamping action of the plate is caused by the ar 'angement of the ways 13 and 14:

in opposition to the tace plate 7 and that the Ways together with the clamping plate utilize the cam or Wedge principle.

The formation of the shoulders 13 and 14, by bending them over and clamping them against the sides S and 9, makes said shoulders very strong and prevents the opening of same by the clamping plate 4 When Wedging the belt against the plate 7.

In my buckle the clamping plate may be removed through the end ll when the belt is removed from the buckle, as, for example, to repair the plate -l when itis necessary, or to change the plate l for another belt of a different thickness.

Having thus described my invention claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent :H

l. in a buckle of the class described, a body portion having sides normal to the same and gradually increasing in Width from one end of the body to the other; a bracing portion integral with said sides at their Widest end, said sides having their longitudinal edges turned toward said body and clamped against said sides, thereby forming a passageway which increases in Width toward said bracing portion; and a loosely mounted clamping plate in said passageway bearing against said turned, clamped edges and adapted to reciprocate in said passageway between said sides, said plate having means overhanging said sides whereby said plate may be made to recipro cate.

`2. ln a buckle of the rclass described, a body portion having sides normal to the same and gradually increasing in Width "rom one end of said body Vto thev other end; a bracing portion extending transversely of said body integral with said sides at their Widest end, thereby forming a loop for a belt at one end of saidbody, said sides hav-A ing their longitudinal edges turned toward said body and clamped against said sides, thereby forming a passageway which gradw ally increases in Width toward said bracing portion; and a slidable, loosely and removably mounted clamping plate in said passageway bearing against said turned clamping edges, and having means overhanging said sides of said body whereby said plate may be made to reciprocate in said passage- Way of said body.

ln testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of tivo subscribing Witnesses.

THOMAS F. MALONEY. Witnesses A. L. KITCHIN, JOHN l?. Davis.

Copies of this patent may be obtained foi` ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

